Free Devil's Due: A Thomas Caine Thriller (The Thomas Caine Series Book 0) by Andrew Warren

dirty orange extension cord ran from the TV into the house, powering the Thai soap opera that flickered on the enormous screen.
    "You one crazy farrang," Lau whispered as they walked towards the dark figure.   "You get in here, no problem.   But you never get out.   You die here."
    "Just introduce me," Caine muttered.
    He spotted several gunmen perched on the balcony above them, training their weapons on him.   He realized Lau might be correct.   If things did not go well, it was unlikely he would leave this house alive.
    As they reached the table, Lau dropped to his knees.   The pudgy little man bowed, touching his head to the ground.   "Chao Mae, forgive me.   I fail you!"
    The figure in the chair turned to face them.   Caine was surprised to see an elderly woman's face eying him with dark, sunken eyes.   She was dressed in a pink robe over her fluffy, white slippers.   A silk scarf held back her stark white hair, although a single gray curl flopped across her wrinkled forehead.
    "Yes, you have failed me, Lau," the woman said.   "How many times have I told you, never interrupt my dramas?"   Her voice was low and raspy.   Caine could hear years of smoking and drinking in the harsh, scratchy tone.   Her eyes darted back and forth over his face, like a serpent's tongue.   "Who the hell are you?"
    Caine eyed the old woman, but kept his gun trained on Lau.   "My name is Mark Waters."
    The woman turned away and poured herself some tea from a metal pot on the table.   "Huh.   I'm old enough to know a lie when I hear one.   But what do I care?   None of my business what you write on your tombstone.   You can call me Anna.   Sit and have some tea, while things are still civil."
    Caine watched as several gunmen moved down to the pool.   They hung just out of the light, keeping their weapons aimed at him from a distance.   He shrugged and walked over to the table.   Whoever this woman was, the men seemed to be protecting her.   His best chance to survive was to stay close to her.   She made a waving motion with her hand, and Lau stood up.   He glared at Caine, then turned and shuffled back into the house.
    Caine sat down in one of the patio chairs and placed the gun on the table, making sure to keep it out of the old woman's reach.   Anna sat to his right.   Across the table from him, sitting in the free chair, was a small doll.  
    The doll was exactly the same size as a young human girl.   Its porcelain skin had a pink, glossy sheen to it.   Thick black hair fell to its shoulders, and Caine was certain the strands were real, human hair.   Its plastic eyes sparkled, reflecting the rippling glow of the pool. The thing almost looked alive in the dim, shifting light, and Caine found the effect unnerving.  
    The doll was dressed in expensive, designer clothes.   A plate of real food sat on the table before it.
    Anna flashed him a toothy smile and poured him a cup of tea.   She poured another cup and set it before the inanimate figure.   "This is my luk thep.   Her name is Tia.   Say hello to Tia, Mr. Waters."
    Caine turned his gaze from the doll to the old woman.   "It's a doll."
    "It's not a doll; it's a luk thep.   Do you know what that means?"
    Caine shook his head.  
    "It means 'child angel'," the woman rasped.   "She was blessed by a Buddhist priest.   She's not a toy; she's a talisman.   Now say hello, or I'll have my men you flay alive."
    Caine turned to the doll.   "Hello, Tia.   Pleased to meet you."   He spoke as if he were talking to a small child.
    The woman smiled and turned back to the TV.   "Damn, now I'm lost.   You picked an inconvenient time to disturb me, Mr. Waters."
    Caine took a sip of tea.   The woman is deranged , he thought.   He would have to proceed carefully.   "I was expecting to find a chao pho godfather in this house."
    She gave him a shrew smile.   "Instead, you found a godmother.   The correct term is chao mae.   Surprised?"
    Caine nodded.